UNITED STATES: UNITED STATES AND CUBA ENGAGE IN TIT-FOR-TAT WITH DIPLOMATIC EXPULSIONS

Record ID: 337594

  • Title: UNITED STATES: UNITED STATES AND CUBA ENGAGE IN TIT-FOR-TAT WITH DIPLOMATIC EXPULSIONS
  • Date: 20th August 1996
  • Summary: WASHINGTON, D.C. (AUGUST 20, 1996) (RTV -- ACCESS ALL) 1. MV CUBAN DIPLOMAT JOSE PONCE CARABALLO 0.06 2. MV JOSE PONCE CARABALLO SPEAKING ABOUT HIS EXPUSLION FROM THE UNITED STATES (SPANISH) 0.45 3. CU CARABALLO'S HAND 0.49 4. MV JOSE PONCE CARABALLO SPEAKING ABOUT HIS EXPUSLION FROM THE UNITED STATES (SPANISH AND ENGLISH) 5. CU
  • Embargoed: 4th September 1996 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: WASHINGTON, D.C. UNITED STATES
  • City:
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVA7KIWRILRB7GWCP7YATG7XUMK4
  • Story Text: - INTRO: The United States and Cuba have engaged in a tit-for-tat with the expulsion of diplomats by both nations.

    ------------------------------------------------------------------ A Cuban diplomat was asked on Monday (August 19) to leave the United States (U.S.) in one week's time after Cuban officials revoked the visa of a Havana-based U.S. diplomat.

    Jose Ponce Caraballo, an officer at the Cuban Interest Section in the U.S. told Reuters Television during an interview in Washington, D.C. that his expulsion sent a message to "the Cuban government and people that the U.S. does not care about establishing a bridge (of friendship) between the two nations.

    Ponce Caraballo said his expulsion, as announced by the U.S.

    State Department, was a retaliatory act since Cuba revoked the visa of Robin Meyer, of the U.S. Interest Section in Cuba, for her alleged involvement in anti- government activities on the Island.

    His expulsion, Caraballo said, was another sign of a deteriorating relationship between the U.S. and Cuba. The relationship reached its lowest point in March with the implementation of the Helms-Burton Law, which penalises foreign companies doing business with the Cuban government.

    The Cuban government said Meyer, who was given until Wednesday (August 21) to leave the island, engaged in "activities incompatible with her diplomatic status," officials said.

    She is said to have handed out copies of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and standard college-level textbooks on government, democracy and international relations, officials said.

    Ponce Caraballo was given one week to leave the United States.


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